City's opening Lowland League East fixture ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw with East Stirlingshire at Ochilview yesterday evening, although Andy Kirk's side will undoubtedly feel they let two valuable points slip after holding a 3-1 advantage with little more than quarter of an hour remaining.

In truth, the point was probably a fair reflection of an absorbing contest with the home side creating enough chances throughout to merit their share of the spoils. However, having weathered sustained pressure before producing a clinical spell that saw them move two goals ahead, City will be left frustrated by defensive lapses and missed opportunities which ultimately prevented them from opening their league campaign with a victory.

City travelled to Ochilview dealing with a mounting injury list. Kyle Bell and Adam Hutchinson joined Spencer Moreland, Kieran Inglis, Euan Spark and Corey Kirk on the sidelines, forcing Andy Kirk into further changes following Saturday's Premier Sports Cup fixture at Forfar.

Ryan Blair in action on his debut

There was an immediate place in the squad for Ryan Blair after completing his move to the club earlier in the afternoon, while the City Manager also handed a start to a trialist on the left side of defence. Ross Milne and Euan Hamilton also came into the starting eleven.

The hosts made the brighter start and threatened inside three minutes when Ben Lamont tried his luck from distance, but Kyle Gourlay was equal to the effort, getting down well to make the save.

City responded almost immediately. Darren Watson was picked out by an inviting cross into the penalty area but his shot on the turn was well gathered by Jay Cantley.

The visitors began to grow into the contest and created a series of opportunities midway through the half. Fraser Macleod unleashed a powerful volley which Cantley did well to tip over the crossbar before Ryan Blair's delivery from the resulting set-piece found Mitch Taylor at the back post - his close-range header was somehow kept out by the goalkeeper's feet and from the resulting corner Ross Milne could only head wide despite finding himself unmarked.

Despite City's pressure, it was East Stirling who struck first after 27 minutes. Brad McKay looked to shepherd the ball out of play, only for Ben Lamont to nip in, cut inside and fire an excellent finish beyond Gourlay to hand the home side the advantage.

City responded positively and were back on level terms nine minutes later. Lewis Martin made it two goals in as many games when he met Ryan Blair's dangerous free-kick and swept home to restore parity.

City were nearly in front just before the interval as Ross Milne's ambitious strike from distance flew narrowly wide of the post, leaving the sides level at the break.

The impressive Dale Hilson tussles for possession

East Stirling again started the second half strongly. Ryan Duncan curled narrowly past the upright before hesitant defending presented Ben Lamont with another opportunity, only for Gourlay to react quickly and block before the danger was eventually cleared.

The home side continued to press and came within inches of restoring their lead on the hour mark. Michael Weir looked certain to score until Ross Milne produced a magnificent headed clearance on the goal line to deny him.

Having survived that spell of pressure, City suddenly found another gear. On 65 minutes, Mitch Taylor surged down the left and drilled a low cross into the penalty area where Dale Hilson kept his composure superbly, firing high beyond Cantley to give City the lead for the first time.

Just nine minutes later City made it 3-1 and Taylor was again the architect. Another excellent run down the left caused problems and his low ball into the box found Fraser Macleod who calmly stroked his finish into the far corner to extend City's advantage.

Fraser Macleod celebrates after putting City 3-1 ahead

Confidence was now flowing through the visitors and they came agonisingly close to putting the game beyond doubt three minutes later. Darren Watson burst clear of the defence before squaring across goal where Hilson narrowly failed to connect - the ball ran through to Taylor whose goal-bound effort was brilliantly blocked on the line by a defender.

Despite spending much of the early second half under pressure, City now looked likely to extend their lead further. Instead, the match turned dramatically once again.

A Ryan Duncan free-kick was parried by Gourlay after 78 minutes but only into the path of O'Neill who squared the loose ball for Tony Coutts to lash home from close range and reduce the deficit.

City immediately had opportunities to restore their two-goal cushion. Watson forced another save from Cantley with a low effort before Macleod raced onto a through ball and unselfishly squared for Taylor, whose first-time effort was somehow kept out by another outstanding stop from Cantley before firing the rebound into the side netting.

Those missed chances proved costly. With five minutes remaining, a high ball into the Brechin penalty area was spilled by Gourlay and Alexander Walker reacted quickest, smashing a volley high into the net to complete East Stirlingshire's comeback.

East Stirling players wheel away in jubilation after making it 3-3

There was still time for further drama. Hilson struck the outside of the post as City searched for a late winner, while at the other end Gourlay produced an excellent save to turn Jay Tapping's powerful long-range effort around the post during stoppage time. Moments later Ross Milne produced another outstanding defensive intervention, throwing himself in the way of a goal-bound effort to ensure City escaped with a point in the end.

It brought the curtain down on a thoroughly entertaining contest for the neutral that ebbed and flowed throughout the evening. While Brechin will be hugely disappointed not to have seen out the victory after establishing a commanding 3-1 lead, East Stirling's attacking intent and chances created over the 90 minutes meant a draw was probably the fairest outcome.

City now turn their attention to another away fixture on Saturday as they travel to New Dundas Park to take on Bonnyrigg Rose where they will be aiming to secure their first league victory of the new campaign against one of the league favourites.